From time to time, our staff receive requests from students or faculty to verify that a student who is experiencing difficulty with academic or athletic performance has been treated at CHWS. This circumstance confronts the student with a dilemma regarding whether to maintain privacy about their health care (and risk penalties) or acquire supportive documentation (and reveal personal health care information). Our response to such a request is guided by the following:
When a student asks for documentation of his/her treatment at CHWS:
- State laws regarding confidentiality of health care information allow us to confirm treating the student only with his/her informed written consent.
- We will provide the least amount of information that is sufficient communication of student status.
- With appropriate authorization from the student we can provide documentation of treatment provided at CHWS. We cannot confirm treatment that has been provided in another setting.
- In many cases, we can verify that the student has been seen, but cannot ascertain whether this condition would account for impaired academic or athletic performance.
- Responsibility for conveying relevant personal information to faculty and staff is that of the student.
- Responsibility for determining the appropriate response to student absences is that of the faculty or staff person.
When faculty or staff persons ask us for documentation of a student’s treatment:
- Faculty/staff will be instructed to have the student contact the health provider directly and sign a consent for release of this information.
- Prior to written consent, we cannot confirm that a student has been seen at CHWS. Upon completion of a consent for exchange of information form, documentation will be provided, as described above.
CHWS staff can provide university personnel a supply of these release forms so they may easily hand them to students from whom they request this information.